Survey of DC Insiders Places AOA on Lobbying’s Top Ten List

The AOA is one of the most effective and respected lobbying operations in Washington, D.C., according to a new survey of Congressional offices, policy experts and association executives by CEO Update, a national publication that covers the association sector.

Specifically cited in the survey's results is the AOA's multi-year commitment to ensuring that optometry is heard loud and clear in the nation's capital through expanded grassroots advocacy efforts, including the AOA Federal Keyperson Program (www.aoa.org/x4826.xml), AOA-PAC (www.aoa.org/x4827.xml), and the annual AOA Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., which swelled to more than 700 OD and student participants this year.

The AOA is also recognized for successes in the two year Capitol Hill battle over health care reform as well as its leadership role over the last year in uniting a broad coalition of provider groups and free-market think tanks in opposition to a bill backed by organized medicine aimed at imposing strict federal controls on how ODs practice and communicate with their patients.

CEO Update notes that top association lobbyists in Washington, D.C must "formulate clear policy arguments backed by the group's members, forcefully articulate fundamental points, provide key information to lawmakers, inspire trust in those they seek to influence and never stop fostering the network and contacts arrayed round the playing fields of power."

The survey placed AOA on a 2012 honor roll that includes far larger membership organizations also active on regulatory and legislative policy issues in the nation's capital, including the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

According to CEO Update, the AOA is the only health care organization included in this year's lobbying top ten list.

For more information on AOA Advocacy and how you can get involved, including through the AOA Federal Keyperson Program and AOA-PAC, please contact the AOA Washington Office by calling 1-800-365-2219 or by email at ImpactWashingtonDC@aoa.org.